Jeju Island Implements 'Special Quarantine Measures' Until the 2nd of Next Month... Private Gatherings Limited to 6 People

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won] Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced on the 21st that it will implement special quarantine measures for the Lunar New Year holiday period until the 2nd of next month.

The Jeju quarantine authorities explained that although the number of confirmed cases in the province is on a downward trend due to strengthened social distancing and increased vaccination rates, this decision was made to prepare for risk factors such as the spread of the Omicron variant, the increase in visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday, and the risk of infection spread through family and relative gatherings.

The special quarantine measures include strengthening quarantine to minimize infection risks along with creating a safe Lunar New Year holiday atmosphere, maintaining uninterrupted patient management, and sustaining emergency quarantine and medical response systems.

During the Lunar New Year holiday period, private gatherings with relatives and acquaintances are limited to up to 6 people regardless of vaccination status.

It is advised to refrain from visiting hometowns or traveling, and if visits are unavoidable, visitors must comply with quarantine rules after vaccination (including the 3rd dose) and diagnostic testing, keeping visits small in scale.

The province strongly recommends refraining from visits if elderly parents are unvaccinated or have not received the 3rd dose.

Visitors are urged to cancel or postpone visits if they have any abnormal symptoms.

Quarantine measures for nursing hospitals, nursing facilities, and funeral facilities will also be strengthened.

From the 24th until the 6th of next month, for two weeks, visits to nursing hospitals and nursing facilities will be conducted as non-contact visits in principle, and a prior reservation system will be implemented to disperse visitors.

However, in urgent cases such as end-of-life situations, contact visits may be allowed at the discretion of the institution's operator.

Visits are only permitted for both inpatients and visitors who have completed vaccination, and video visits will be conducted if non-contact visits are difficult due to severe or bedridden conditions.

Funeral facilities such as columbariums are strongly encouraged to use online memorial services, and ceremonial rooms and lounges at columbarium facilities like Yangji Park will be closed from the 29th until the 2nd of next month. Bringing in and consuming food indoors is also prohibited, and visits are limited to no more than 6 people.

Procedures for entering the island via airports and ports will also be strengthened.

Currently, arriving visitors only pass through a first-stage fever detection camera upon arrival, but going forward, eight self-fever measurement kiosk devices (6 at the airport and 2 at the port) will be additionally installed to conduct second and third-stage monitoring.

The target group for PCR diagnostic testing at the Jeju International Airport walk-through screening clinic will also be expanded.

From the 28th until the 2nd of next month, visitors with fever and their companions, as well as overseas residents wishing to be tested, can receive testing together.

To prepare for the increased number of tests, the province will additionally deploy four fever monitoring personnel and four walk-through operation staff for specimen collection.

Also, an electronic questionnaire (QR code) will be introduced at the walk-through screening clinic to speed up diagnostic testing and minimize close contact while waiting.

The electronic questionnaire process involves scanning the QR code placed at the airport walk-through screening clinic, accessing the province’s website URL link, filling out the questionnaire, and submitting it at the airport walk-through screening clinic.

To ensure rapid diagnostic testing and prevent medical service gaps, 14 screening clinics and 5 infectious disease specialized hospitals in the province will operate normally. However, screening clinics at private medical institutions will only test emergency patients.

The comprehensive COVID-19 response situation room will continue to be maintained without change.

Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won captain@asiae.co.kr